Abstract

Objective: To study the effect of salvianolic acid B (SAB) and curcumin, the extracts ofSalvia Miltiorrhiza andCurcuma Longa, on the proliferation and activation of hepatic stellate cell (HSC), and the extracellular signal regulated kinase (ERK) expression in it.Methods: Rat’s HSC-T6 were cultured and treated by SAB or curcumin. The inhibitory effect on cell proliferation was determined by 3-(4,5-dimthyl-2-2-thiazoly)-2,5-diphenyl-2H-tetrazolium bromide (MTT) colorimetry, and the expression levels of α smooth actin (α-SMA), collagen type I, and ERK were determined by Western blot.Results: SAB and curcumin inhibited the proliferation and activation of rat’s HSC-T6 in dose-dependent fashion and significantly reduced the expression level of a-SMA (P < 0.01). Curcumin significantly reduced the expression of collagen type I (P < 0.05). Both SAB and curcumin showed insignificant effect on the ERK expression level, but they could significantly reduce the level of phosphorylated-ERK expression, showing significant difference as compared with that in the control group (P < 0. 01 andP < 0. 05 respectively).Conclusion: SAB and curcumin could significantly inhibit the proliferation, activation of HSC, and the production of type I collagen in HSC, the mechanism may be associated with their inhibition on ERK phosphorylation.